Candlekeep

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May 31, 2021 8:16 pm
"I'm in!" Aiwë turns to the others. "Do you want to come, girls? It will be a great chance to get to know each other better and I'm dying to see you in action!" She gently jostles Stella.

"There will be plenty of time to read after. I know I want to see their music library and I have to read Keggruk's book. This will help pay for copied excerpts."
Last edited May 31, 2021 8:17 pm
May 31, 2021 8:28 pm
Dieter stops by the stables on his way to the gate to requisition some horses. He talks to one of people outside

"good morning! I’m looking to rent some horses as well as a team of draft horses, or mules either is fine"
May 31, 2021 10:34 pm
Stella sits on her bed with her legs and skirt folded underneath her as she flips through pages, scratching notes, drawing diagrams, blocking out time slots and mumbling to herself.

"...But then that only leaves six hours for studying and copying star charts and geography...I suppose I could make my own later but..."
Quote:
"Do you want to come, girls? It will be a great chance to get to know each other better and I'm dying to see you in action!" She gently jostles Stella.
"Dying?!" Stella starts and looks up, eyes wide. "What? Oh, lost caravan...er...not sure..."

Why are lost caravans probably destroyed by bandits and monsters so common...? she bemoans. Over the last decade or so, the Ten Towns had significantly reduced attacks like that, but not so here, it seemed. Probably why Candlekeep had to be a fortress, and not just a library.

"I mean—there's so much I have to see!" She bounces on the bed slightly and turns her tome around, revealing a map of topics times and locations even an expert archeologist might have trouble deciphering.
Quote:
"There will be plenty of time to read after. I know I want to see their music library and I have to read Keggruk's book. This will help pay for copied excerpts."
She bites her lip and plops her tome back on the bed, resting her elbows on the bed and her chin on her fists. "I'm not sure there is enough time, but...copies..." She gasps, her sparkling eyes lighting up. "That's it!"

She stars flipping pages. "If I can find a way to quickly make copies myself, I could—"

She suddenly freezes on a set of pages. A few of the yellow specks in her eyes flash into to fiery red ones. She starts flipping pages and her eyes skitter across the pages, becoming increasingly horrified.

Throughout and atop the pages in this section of her tome were scribbles, blotches, and tiny handprints, littering the each sheet. One of them was signed Papa, probably her father attempting some heartfelt letter she did not want to read right now.

The rest...well, those were from little Glen—Papa probably left it on the table or something else idiotic when he decided to vandalize her things. At least Mama and Lily, it seemed, had enough sense to leave them alone...

Stella purses her lips and inhales deeply...and keeps inhaling...and holds it...

"Well. I can scream about that later."

She slams her tome shut and hops off the bed, then forces a smile.

"Searching for caravan wreckage sounds great!"
Last edited May 31, 2021 10:37 pm
May 31, 2021 10:49 pm
"Greetings, I am Runeson! (In dwarvish) would it be okay if we spoke in dwarvish? I need to keep practicing and I find it a wonderful language that I don’t often get to have a conversation in." I pause to hear his reply before responding in either dwarvish or common. (Depending on if he agrees to speak in dwarvish or common, I either thank him for humoring me, or respectfully switch to common) "I am seeking to understand more about this iron problem that seems to be afflicting us, and if there is anything that I can do to help the situation?"
I also ask him to look over my weapons and armor for any repairs or issues with the metal.
Last edited May 31, 2021 10:53 pm
Jun 1, 2021 2:18 am
Mesen's jaw drops as Ossein reveals his true nature. "What...? How...?" The young adjutant clears his throat and tries again. "Please excuse my rudeness, Seeker. I... I will fetch the books you requested." He hurries off, looking back over his shoulder several times.

He returns a half hour later with a stack of books. The shock is gone from his face, and in its place is fascination. Without taking his eyes off of Bert and Ossein, Mesen places books down on the table one by one.
[ +- ] A Treatise on the Poet of Justice
[ +- ] How to Necromance Like a Boss
[ +- ] A Weapon Most Vile
[ +- ] Still, My Beating Heart
"If any of these look interesting, I'm happy to fetch more books for you! Just let me know, Seeker."
Jun 1, 2021 3:57 am
The stable-worker Dieter addresses turns to regard him, tucking streams of dark hair behind elegant, pointed ears. The elven woman, like nearly all of the Avowed that Dieter has met this today, gives him a friendly smile. "Greetings, Seeker. I have a pair of good mules, Durnan and Mirt, that should fit your requirements. Treat them well, and they'll do the same for you. How many horses will you need?"
Jun 1, 2021 4:11 am
Khe'ril chuckles and replies in Dwarvish. "O' course, lad! Ye speak it well, an' it reminds me o' home."

His expression darkens at the mention of iron. "Well, lad... Those what be namin' things be callin' it the Iron Crisis. All I know is tha' all the iron in the region seems ta be rubbish. The new stuff, at least. Thank goodness the old be holdin' its own, or I'd be thinkin' I offended the Morndinsamman (Dwarven pantheon)." He rubs his beard. "Aye, we entreated tha' Iron Throne for premium ore, hopin' it do us better, but I heard their caravan was waylaid."

Khe'ril folds his thick arms across his chest and shakes his head. "To make matters worse, they say trade from North an' South be cut off by bandits. The land around Baldur's Gate hasn't seen a shipment o' iron from outside the region in months. I cannae say what the solution be. Perhaps a god or goddess has cursed this land."
Jun 1, 2021 4:53 am
Rift, intrigued by this place and the ogre, casually sits at an empty table where he can see the massive creature. He orders a grown-up drink (don't tell Mother) and discreetly sneaks peeks around the room. There is so much to see and hear, however his eyes keep going back to the hulking ogre and its too-small book.

Aren't ogres supposed to be stupid? He is sure that someone told him that. So why is the ogre here in Candlekeep? Why is it reading? Could ogres even read? What book could fascinate such a stupid monster?

As Rift mulls over these questions, he takes a sip of his drink. The liquid assaults his mouth in more ways than he knew was possible. He stops himself from gagging, but it's a close thing. What a terrible drink! He shudders and pushes the mug away.
Jun 1, 2021 5:08 am
Thank you for the information. The Iron Crisis turkey is a dark sign.
Thank you again for the conversation, one last question before I need to meet my companions... I have been hired to collect the caravan that was attacked, or at least it’s contents. From my recollection, it was the axle that snapped and woke up the horde of gibberlings. Do you have a spare axle that I could buy, or any advice on making a new one from wood?
Jun 1, 2021 6:12 am
As his companions disperse around him, Sheemish stands awkwardly trying to take it all in. It was all so much . . larger, and so different from back home. But what had his father said, something about the whole always being a sum of its parts just as metal was. Sheemish smiled, everything had with his father had somehow referred back to metal. So what made up this city? What alloys or parts made this place run. Though shocked at first at his surroundings, Sheemish's mind now begins to take it all in but there's just so much! His thoughts are interrupted as he hears a call for volunteers to bring back some sort of metal? Now that sounds like a good place to start.

Wrapping Ug's loincloth around his waist (multiple times with how big it was), the loincloth was more of long apron than anything else, sheemish eagerly volunteers for the salvage mission and as there is a bit of time between meeting at the gate he does the next best thing on his mind, and goes to visit the Smithy.

He enters just in time to hear the Smithy discussing the Iron Crisis. Poor quality metal?

Approaching the blacksmith and with the best dwarfish bow that a man of his height could impersonate, Sheemish politely joins the conversation, also in the dwarfish tongue. "Pardon me Master Smithy, but may I have a good look at that?" he asks gesturing to the blade the smithy was working on. With a trained blacksmith's eye Sheemish inspects the iron trying to discern its origins and cause for imperfections.

If Sheemish needs a persuasion check, he would show proof of his admittance into the blacksmith's guild, probably as an insignia on his satchel or or clothing?
Last edited June 1, 2021 6:26 am

Rolls

History of poor quality iron - (1d20+5)

(16) + 5 = 21

Jun 1, 2021 4:56 pm
As Rift regards the ogre, he notices an interesting metal circlet around its forehead. Having encountered many magic items among his mother's hoard, the small dragonborn understands that this is a Headband of Intellect.
[ +- ] Headband of Intellect
How might a brute like this have acquired such an item? Did he kill the former owner and take it? Did someone sneak it onto him as a joke? Whatever the case, the ogre now seems quite passive. As Rift watches, some of the other patrons greet the monster while passing.

"How's the book, Little One?"

"Good to see you, Little One."

"Little One, you must try this book on the history of Halruaa!"

The ogre smiles a gap-toothed smile at each patron and murmurs thanks for the new book.
Jun 1, 2021 5:12 pm
Quote:
"Do you have a spare axle that I could buy, or any advice on making a new one from wood?"
"O' course, Seeker! An' for the friendliness ye've shown, ye can have this one for free." Khe'ril digs around in a nearby crate for a minute or so, finally appearing with an axle. "Best o' luck to ye, Seeker! Ye bring tha' iron back safe an' sound."
Quote:
"Pardon me Master Smithy, but may I have a good look at that?" he asks gesturing to the blade the smithy was working on. With a trained blacksmith's eye Sheemish inspects the iron trying to discern its origins and cause for imperfections.
Khe'ril beams at this newcomer. "Another Seeker who speaks me own tongue! Aye, but there be somethin' different about this one. Pardon me askin', lad, but ye got dwarf blood in ye?"

As Sheemish inspects the iron blade, he does see that, yes, the metal seems corroded somehow. He isn't sure how it came to be this way, but its obvious the weapon won't hold up in combat. If all iron in the region is like this, it's a serious problem.

Khe'ril nods gravely. "The ore come from Nashkel, to the south. They've a mine there tha' supplies us, Baldur's Gate, an' the towns round about. Technically it's a part o' Amn, though, an' nae Baldur's Gate. They don' have the best o' relations, those two, but we at Candlekeep stay out o' the politics."
Jun 1, 2021 8:00 pm
"Oh these are just splendid. Thank you so much for your assistance."

As soon as the books hit the table, Bert has found "Still, My Beating Heart", picked it up and appears to already be lost in the book.

"Ok Bert, I think I'd like to start on "A Weapon Most Vile", so if you don't mind picking up that one first...Oh, I see you've already chosen haven't you? Thank you for including me in this decision Bert...Bert...BERT!"


...."I can't, I just can't be with you Morloch" Brittany complained.
She was protesting, but he could tell by how her body was pressed up against his that she didn't mean it. She continued, "Bobby at the temple asked about you again. I'm worried he'll figure out the truth soon. I could never go back to being with him, not after he slept with my sister. And if I don't, I'm certain he'll get me kicked out of the Order, or worse, transferred."
"Don't worry about any of that darling. I've found the solution to everything.", Morloch contested. Pulling out a small box, he presented it to Brittany, opening it slowly.
"A ring!?", Brittany squealed. "You told me you didn't believe in marriage."
"I don't, this ring is more than a marriage proposal. This, this is my phylactery. It took some doing to make it into the shape of a ring, but I succeeded in becoming a lich like I've always wanted. And now you literally hold my heart in your hand, for eternity."
Stunned, Brittany's eyes lose focus, and her legs buckle. Quickly catching her from her faint, Morloch picks her up and gently places her in the bed. Her eyes flutter open when he places a gentle kiss on her lips.


"*sigh* I guess we'll take another book for Bert here, but please don't bring it by until after we've finished with the rest of these. Otherwise we'll never get anything done."
Last edited June 1, 2021 8:00 pm
Jun 2, 2021 12:30 am
With the beginnings of evening falling upon Candlekeep and the rest of her fellow adventurers off in the... downstairs area? Was it the building tied to this one--the Hearth or something? Wirrow couldn't actually remember where it was or what it was called, but her friends and their companions were there, eating and talking and maybe listening to Aiwe play one of her many instruments.

They probably won't notice I'm gone, Wirrow thinks as she crosses the courtyard, where shadows ever so slowly are beginning to lengthen. Though Stella might already be where I'm going; she seemed excited from the moment we got here.

The pale girl finally comes to a stop somewhere within the Pillars of Pretentiousness, which she would be mentally pretending was the name until something she sees or hears reminds her of the correct one. It seemed like the place for someone who'd had formal schooling; it certainly had sounded formal.

Looking for the nearest Avowed that doesn't seem otherwise occupied, Wirrow hesitantly approaches.

"Umm, excuse me... how does one take advantage of the knowledge found in the library?"
Last edited June 2, 2021 12:36 am
Jun 2, 2021 1:49 am
Quote:
Looking for the nearest Avowed that doesn't seem otherwise occupied, Wirrow hesitantly approaches.

"Umm, excuse me... how does one take advantage of the knowledge found in the library?"
The Avowed nearly jumps at her quiet query. He shakes his head as if to clear it, then apologizes profusely. "Please excuse my distracted behavior, Seeker! I was just wondering about..." His eyes flick to a secluded reading alcove and the strange duo reading there. "Erm, right! Knowledge in the library. What is it that interests you? Philosophy? History? Magic? Monstrology? Just kidding, that isn't one. Well, I mean there are plenty of books on monsters." His eyes flick to the alcove again. "Monsters...?" he mutters to himself.

He shakes his head again and determinedly straightens up, focusing his attention on Wirrow. "Ah, I see you're an archer! Would you perhaps like to learn a little magic to go with your arrows? Anyway, I'm happy to find books on whatever topic you like. And, uh, the name's Mesen."
Jun 2, 2021 3:13 am
The way the young man emphasizes 'monstrology' puts Wirrow a bit on edge, though he had looked over at one of the alcoves... maybe avoid that one, just to be sure. "I, err... yes? Maybe? The archery magic." She almost bites the inside of her lip before catching herself. She was supposed to have broken that nervous habit a while ago, and she wasn't going to start again now.

"And monstrology, or something like that... do you have anything about," Wirrow's voice drops to an almost fearful half-whisper, "...vampires?"

She tries to put a bit more confidence in her voice. The slight tremble in her tone and clenched hands shows she isn't quite successful. "How it, you know... works, the kinds of magic they might be able to use, that sort of thing..."

A stench that she picks up in the air helps her to regain most of her composure, taking her focus elsewhere. Was it coming from the place the boy had looked at? "Oh, umm... and it's okay if some of them aren't in Common." There, she did it! That had to be everything he needed for this conversation, right?
Last edited June 2, 2021 3:13 am
Jun 2, 2021 3:27 am
"Thank you Khe'ril, for the axle and for the conversation."
I then proceed to the stables to try and heal the injured horse that rescued me.
I take my time examining the horse and trying to heal it in a more conventional method before using my Lay on Hands.

Horse heals at least 1 hp?
Last edited June 2, 2021 3:30 am

Rolls

Medicine - Horse - (1d20+3)

(8) + 3 = 11

Jun 2, 2021 4:21 am
Mesen nods respectfully. "Of course! I would be happy to fetch some books along those lines." He bows slightly. "If you'll excuse me, Seeker..."

The Avowed returns sometime later with several books.
[ +- ] How to Arch With the Best!
[ +- ] Predators of the Night
[ +- ] So You Wanna Be a Vampire?
[ +- ] The Maiden and the Ruffian Rogue
After dropping off the books and leaving, Mesen comes running back to Wirrow's table, his face beet-red. "I am SO sorry. That last book was meant for another Seeker... You know, he doesn't even sleep. So I can't either!" He rubs his eyes. "Anyway, I grabbed a random book in a random language for you. I'm afraid I don't know what it's about..."
[ +- ] "ͯ͋ͧ͒͐ͯ̔̋͏̸͎̫̬̝͎͔͙̝C̪̮̓͋ͥ͊͊̾͢U̬͓̮̠͉̰͋̓ͯ͜͡R̷͙͎̫͓͎̪͕̪̙ͮ̾ͩS̨̥̅̓͟E͔͖̫͕̤̯̪̫͍̔̽͒̽̎̀̈́̄̿͡ ̧̳̬̗͖͎̱̰̀̑ͪͨͨ̆̿͡Y̡̻̱͕̖̆͂͐̍̅̐ͅO̡̙̤̗͉̟̿̃U̠̩̰͕̼̺̙͈͋͐͐ͮ̉̀͝!̧̗̼̘͖͔̳̝ͤͭ̒ͬ̍̋̔͢"̸̖̭̯̘͎̭͖ͨͦ͛̓̕ͅ
Jun 2, 2021 5:15 am
You guess correctly sir" Sheemish replies to the blacksmith as he inspects the blade, "My mother was a dwarf, finest smith in the land, or so I was told. I do not have many memories of her sadly, but my father taught me as best he could in her arts and it has become my own passion now. It is one of the reasons I am traveling. My apprenticeship under my father has taught me well, but there is so much more I want to learn, especially in regards to constructing magical items." Sheemish trails off as he realizes he is rambling. He hands the broken blade back to the smithy, "What would you recommend as the next step for an aspiring artificer? A piece of your knowledge of the craft is something I would humbly and truly honor."
Jun 2, 2021 6:48 pm
Runeson looks over the big horse's many injuries as it lies in its stall. Any weaker horse surely would have been killed from such punishment. It seems that this one, though, may have the will to live on if given the chance. The paladin isn't so familiar with horse anatomy as to know where to start with treating its wounds, but a touch of his hand and a bit of divine healing do a little to help everywhere.

As the healing takes hold, the horse stands up suddenly.

"Ah, I see you have taken a liking to this horse." The voice comes from an elven stablehand nearby. "He is strong and brave. Or, he will be again." She laughs lightly as the horse nuzzles Runeson's shoulder. "And it seems he has taken a liking to you as well!"

She reaches into a pouch and pulls out a red apple. "Give this to him; he deserves a treat."
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